AMA

Against medical advice

“Against medical advice” (AMA) refers to a situation where a patient chooses to leave a healthcare facility or refuse treatment despite medical recommendations to the contrary. The term gained prominence in the 20th century with the rise of modern hospitals and formalized patient consent processes. AMA discharge documents became routine to legally protect healthcare providers, confirming that patients were informed of potential risks but chose to act independently of medical guidance. It highlights the balance between patient autonomy and medical responsibility.

He left AMA.